Holiday parks are places for people to get away and let off some steam – so why shouldn’t their pets be part of the fun? More than six in 10 UK households live with an animal friend, including service dogs, and you could be missing out on a whole other source of revenue if your business doesn’t accommodate the country’s furry friends.
A lot of changes may need to be made before your welcome animals into your holiday park, though. This is not only for their safety but to ensure that they have as good a time as your human guests.
Establish pet-friendly policies
Before you get started on making alterations to your park, you’ll need to establish pet-friendly policies and investigate any legal changes. The presence of animals will factor into considerations like holiday home insurance, for example.
For the consideration of other guests, it would be smart to put in place rules against prohibited breeds as well as to establish a canine code of conduct. The same might go for implementing an animal sitting service for any guest who wants to go out for the day and doesn’t want to leave their furry pal alone.
Pet-friendly accommodation
Providing pet-friendly cabins, cottages or camping sites with essential amenities will keep everyone happy and having the best time. These include accessible water bowls, pet beds and secure outdoor spaces for pets to stretch their legs.
Despite how much we adore them, our animal companions can be unpredictable so you can make your life easier by making your furnishings durable and easy to clean.
Designated play and exercise areas
Plenty of exercise and play are essential elements of dog care so your holiday park should include areas designated for playtime. Depending on the type of animal and breed, pets like dogs usually need at least one to two walks a day so providing fenced-in dog parks or open spaces with agility gives them the space that they need to run about.
This will also provide the ideal spot for pooches to socialise with other pets, along with other owners.
Nearby pet-friendly attractions
Guests don’t want to always stay within the confines of the holiday park so you can provide owners with local information on nearby pet-friendly attractions. This could be nearby hiking trails, beaches or any restaurants that welcome pets. This will prevent pets from being left alone on your property and improve the overall experience of your holiday park.
Staff training
Having dogs on the premises requires extra training so your staff will need to be updated on your new pet-friendly policies. This will include information on how to handle pets and provide assistance to guests with pets in the case of an emergency.